Follow The Training Methods of Horses and Riders

APRIL REEVES, Level 3 English – Flat / Dressage / Hunter / Jumper. Level 3 Western – Flat / Reining.

Have you ever wondered how to start a young horse? Or maybe you want to teach your horse to neck rein? Whatever your equine needs and desires are, you can follow individual horses and riders on their journey to better horsemanship. The horses and students in this blog are real, and are under the guidance and training of April Reeves. We invite you to share our journeys, trials, and breakthroughs!

“Great blog and hope to have some time soon to come back and read more!” Rider

You can also follow other training tips, articles, question & answers and video on April’s other sites: Horseman’s U.com and April Reeves Horse Training Questions & Answers.

Lora and Gypsy’s first show of the year

Lora is one of my students. She is a hard worker, does her homework, follows through with her plan and it shows on her horse, Gypsy, a Morgan/Paint cross.

Lora is also one of the prettiest and smoothest riders I have had the priviledge to teach. She is quiet, has impeccable form and almost always a straight line from bit to elbow. She did not go over height in this show, but she trains over 3 feet at home, and just wanted to see if her nerves would hold out.

Viento goes to the show!

Ashley loaded Viento and off to the first show of the season. Not bad for a little horse who was just started less than 3 months ago. He did have a few rides on him last year, but when he came out of the field early this year, he may as well been unbroke.

This was a hunter/jumper show, so the classes started with one flat and 4 corresponding classes for each division. The first division was for beginner horses. Ashley is not a flat competitor, and prefers to do her flat work at home. So Viento’s first class was over fences; cross poles barely one foot off the ground.

Viento’s first jumping clinic with Ashley

May 3, 2009 – Viento and Ashley enter April Reeve’s (that’s me) hunter/jumper clinic. This was Viento’s first, and everyone was wondering if Viento would perform his little stunts that he likes to do at home: spook at nothing, scuttle out from underneath Ashley if her hand goes in the air, and other unusual, annoying little quirks.

Viento moved through the flat exercises without a hitch, carefully watching the series of bounce fences he was warming up to do.

Viento at month 2 – doing great and gaining weight!

Ashley and Viento

It’s been a while since I posted anything about Viento. Ashley rides him 5 days a week and sticks to the training schedule we have for him. This post will show you the ‘after’ photos of him and give you some details of what we have been working on. Viento has also discovered a new talent, which we had hoped was there all along.

Viento Ride # – Oh, it doesn’t matter anymore. He’s doing great!

Forget what ride Viento is on. This scrawny little pony now looks like the proud half Andalusian he is. Ashley is doing so well working with him, and following the training schedule we put together.

This is what happens when you take the time and do it right:

Mya Lesson #6 – What an amazing filly!

Mya staying softly between the reins

39 days since our last visit and Mya performed as usual – listening, bending, and today an added bonus!

Because so much time had gone by since our last ride, I went through all the same methods as the first two rides. She did everything well, almost to the point where I was wondering if someone had been working with her, but that was not the case. She is sweet; there is no other way to describe this mare. Her winter coat is shedding, leaving her ‘blood’ mark on her shoulder more prominent, and a soft rose gray color on her body. She will be stunning this year!

Laredo Lesson #6 – Time is the enemy

Too many days off can be good or bad

39 days have gone by since the last ride on Laredo. When I last left him, he was just starting to get flexible, and he was picking up his cues for forward.

However, time has not been kind to us. On this ride, he was as stiff as his first day, and did not remember any cues. We are back to square one, with the exception of being able to mount and walk off. There is no buck in him (yet?) but we are still in the round pen.

Viento Ride #8 – The First Canter

Ashley took Viento into his first canter today. As I expected, he has a soft, slow lopey canter. I asked her to stay at the canter; without breaking into the trot, walk or halt. She is to keep Viento in the canter and stay in a large circle about 20 meters.

Ashley used her regular aids to ask for the canter; outside leg back, inside leg at the girth, and a loose, guiding rein. Viento has such a good rhythm at the trot now, I didn’t feel he had to be “charged” into the canter. To prepare for the first canter, you need to exaggerate to teach. Sit up straight with no leaning forward, put more weight on the outside seat bone, use your inside leg either on the girth (asking for forward movement) or you can ‘open’ that leg by bringing it out and away from the horses’ side (open the door) if the horse has plenty of forward movement. Outside leg back, and take this from the trot, not the walk.

Viento Ride # 2-7, The Homework Pays Off!

Ashley has been doing her homework. I was in California for one week, and when I returned Viento was moving much better. He has gained about 40 pounds, and starting to get a topline, especially at the connection between his neck and wither.

Ashley spent the time doing a great deal of rhythm work and it’s paying off! Viento now moves with lovely cadence and rhythm in his trot. His head is lower and he’s vertical now, thanks to the continual lateral work (stiff sides create a hard mouth that refuses to work in the vertical). Viento now moves left and right with even suppleness. Ashley worked both sides equally. I tell my students to work both sides at the same rate and not to put more work into the stiff side, as it often makes things worse.

Viento Ride #1 – Back from the field

Viento is a 5YO, 14.1HH Andalusian/Arabian gelding. He has just spent the winter in a big field with friends, and is now coming back to work.

Last year he was started for 2 months and then ridden by one of my students for 2 months. He is very green, and does not have a solid grasp of the aids, flexion or much of anything. You can just sit on him and go for a ride. He does seem to be reliable and has a good mind (that Regalo breeding again!).

Conformation wise, although he is short, he could make a brilliant pony hunter, as he has a nice gait and is very pretty, under all that hair (time will tell if he has form over fences). Currently his neck is inverted; meaning it looks as though it’s on upside down. That will change with work, time and proper muscling exercises.

This was lesson 1 with Viento, for my student, Ashley, who will be working with him this year and showing him. He had his feet trimmed, wormed and is ready to start. He had one week back to adjust, and has gained about 50 lbs. I would like to see another 100 pounds of necessary flesh (raw muscle weight) added to him, and then another 75 pounds for ‘bloom’. He currently is about 700 pounds. Finished weight with show bloom: 900 (+ -) pounds.

To begin, I always start exactly where I start a young colt after a few rides. Ashley is riding him English, so his equipment is an English close contact saddle and a French link snaffle, eggbutt sides. Ashley is a very competent rider with a lovely seat and hands.